Broom-corn harvester.



N0. 7|6,440. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

J. E. LARSON.

BROOM CORN HARVESTEB.

(Application filed Aug. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.)

5 Shaets-S heet I.

Patented Dec. 23, I902. J. E. LARSON.

BROOM CORN HABVESTER.

(Application filed Aug. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-$heet 2.

glnvemfoz N0. 7|6,440. PatentedDac. 23, I902.

E. LARSON, BROOM CORN HARVESTER.-

(Application filed Aug. 15. 1902.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shoot 3.

1;: z Yta Nu. 7|6,440. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

J. E. LARSON.

BROOM CORN HARVESTER. (Application filed Aug. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-$heet 5.

M mm

' rrn PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. LARSON, OF SILVERCREEK, NEBRASKA.

BROOM-CORN HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,440, dated December23, 1902.

Application filed August 15, 1902. Serial No. 119,728. (No model.)

of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBroom-Corn Harvesters; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to broom-corn harvesters, and particularly tothose in which the stems of the heads or brushes are out to a proper ordesired length before being discharged from the machine.

A further object is to construct a machine of the character describedthat will be comparatively simple in construction, durable in use,efficient, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, which will readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, said inventionconsists in certain novel features of construction and combination andarrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described audclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a view of one side of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite,side thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4is a front end elevation.Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the straightening rollsand the delivery-apron on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinalvertical section taken through the cutter-bar, reel, and conveyer andstraightening-rolls, as indicated by dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

1 denotes the main supporting-frame of the machine, which consists ofthe side bars 2 and a centrally-disposed bar 3, connected at their endsby cross-bars 4.

5 denotes'a main carrying and power-transmitting wheel mounted upon ashaft or axle 6, journaled in bearings formed on one of the side bars 2and the central bar 3 near the forward end of themachine.

7 denotes the carrying-wheel, forming the companion of the wheel 5,journaled upon a stub-shaft formed on a depending arm or bracket fixedto the side bar opposite the wheel 5.

8 denotes the rear caster-wheel,pivotally connected to the rearcross-bar of the frame.

9 denotes an auxiliary frame supported by standards 10, fixed at theirlower ends to the main frame 1. The frame 9 is designed to carry at itsforward end the cutter-bar 11 and sickle 12. Sides or guards 13 aremounted upon the frame 9 and have at their forward endsforwardly-extending divergent arms 14, which are adapted to gather inthe stalks as the machine moves forward.

15 denotes a reel mounted in the upper ends of inclined supports 16,which are adjustably connected at their lower ends to the side pieces orguards 13.

17 denotes an endless slatted conveyor or apron which runs over rollersjournaled in the frame 9 immediately in rear of the cutter-bar 10 andbetween the side pieces or guards 13.

18 denotes a frame arranged across the machine immediately in rear ofthe frame 9 and is supported by the standards 10 and 10 and is slightlyinclined from the frame 9 toward the opposite side of the machine. Theframe 18 is divided transversely and longitudinally by bars 19 and 20,and in the part of the frame immediately in rear of the conveyer 17 aremounted straightening-rolls 21, arranged in a direction across the lineof travel of the endless conveyor 17 and are journaled in the outsidecross-piece of the frame 18 and the division strip or bar 20. The endsof the roll-shafts jonrnaledin the side cross-piece project beyond thesame and are provided with sprocket-'pinions 22. The rolls 21 are spacedapart and are provided along their length with cleats.

23 and 24 denote guard-aprons connected to a portion of the frame andform practically a continuation of the guards 13.

25 denotes a bararrauged in rear of the conveyer 17 and above thestraightening-rolls, and 26 denotes spring-fingers connected to said barand depending therefrom and are adapted to assist in straightening andarrangiug the heads or brushes of the corn.

27 denotes packers,consisting of narrow blades or fingers, which areadapted to work between the rolls 21 to push the heads across the saidrolls. The packers or blades are mounted upon a cranked shaft 27,arranged lodgitudinally of the machine beneath the rolls '21 andjournaled at its ends in bearings formed on the standards and 1O andpivoted on its rear or outer end with a bandwheel 28. The packer-bladesextend some distance below the crank-shaft and are connected to one ofthe side bars 2 of the main frame by links 29.

The space in the frame 18 on the opposite side of the division-bar 20 iscovered by a solid platform 30, and a guard-flange 31 is formed on therear side of said platform.

32 denotes an endless slatted conveyer or delivery-apron arranged abovethe platform 30. 33 and 34, mounted in suitable bearings car- 'ried bythe frame 18, the shaft of the roll 33 being extended and provided witha bandpulley 35, which is connected by a cross-belt 36 to the band-wheel28', by which means the conveyer 32 is driven.

In the space formed in the frame 18 by the transverse division-bar 19 isarranged a cutting-Wheel 37, adjustably mount-ed upon a shaft 38,arranged across said space and jour- Q 'spur gear-pinion 40, which is inmesh with and driven by a spur gear-wheel 41, fixed on a shaft 42,mounted at one end in bearings carried by the frame 18 and at itsopposite end in bearings carried by an arm fixed to the standards 10.

43 denotesasprocket-pinion mounted upon the shaft 42 and is connected toa sprocketpinion 44,fixed on the inner end of the cranked shaft 27 45denotes a sprocket-pinion, also mounted on the shaft 42.

Upon the axle 6 of the main drive-wheelis mounted a combined bevel andspur gearwheel 46. l

47 denotes a short shaft journaled in brackets carried by the mainframe 1. On the inner end of the shaft 47 is fixed a bevel gearpinion48, which is in mesh with the bevelgcar of the wheel 46, and on theopposite end of the shaft 47 is mounted a sprocket-wheel 49.

50 denotes a short shaft mounted in bearings supported upon an arm orbracket carried by the frame 9. On the outer end of the shaft 50 isformed a crank, to which is connected a pitman-rod 51, which is con- Thesaid conveyer passes around rolls' sickle-bar is driven. One of thestretches of said chain is in engagement with the sprocket wheel 45,mounted on the shaft 42,by means of which said shaft is driven and intwo drives the cutting-wheel 37 and the crank-shaft27 from which motionis imparted to the endless conveyer 32.

54 denotes a spur gear-pinion mounted upon the inner end of a shaft 55,journaled in bearings carried by the frame 1, the said pinion 54 beingin mesh and driven by the spur gearteeth of the wheel 46. On theopposite end of the shaft 55 is mounted a double sprocketwheel 56.

57denotes a sprocket-pinion fixed on the shaft 58 of the inner roll ofthe c0nveyer17, said pinion being connected with the larger wheel of thedouble sprocket-wheel 56 by a chain 59, whereby the conveyer 17 isdriven.

60 denotes a band-pulley, also fixed to the shaft 58 and driven thereby.

61 denotes a band-wheel fixed on the end of the reel-shaft of reel 15,and the said wheel is connected with the band-pulley 60 by a crossedbelt 62, by which means the reel is driven.

63 denotes a sprocket-chain which connects the smaller wheel of thedouble sprocketwheel on the shaft 55 with the sprocket-pinions 22 on thestraightening-rolls, by which means the said rolls are driven.

64 denotes a delivery-fork fixed on an arm connected to a rock-shaft65,supported in bearings beneath the outer edge of the frame 18,adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyer or delivery-apron 32, saidfork being adapted to too receive the straightened and trimmed heads ofthe corn from the platform 30. The forward end of the shaft 65 is bentat right angles to itself to form a crank 66, to theinner end of whichis connected one end of a chain 67, which passes under a guide-pulleyand is connected at its free end with an operatinglever 68, by which thefork 64 may be raised and lowered to discharge the heads at intervals oras desired.

69 denotes the drivers seat, mounted upon the frame 1, and 70 denotes abar to which the tongue draft devices (not shown) are attached. Theupper end of said bar is connected to the end of a lever pivoted to thestandard 10 and having an adjustable pawland-rack connection with thesaid standard, by means of which the draft of the machine may be raisedor lowered. I

In operation the machine is intended to be driven through a field ofstanding corn, the diverging arms 14 being adapted to gather in a row ofstalks similar to the ordinary cornharvesting machines and to conductthem to the cutting apparatus, where the heads are severed from thestalks, the reel also aiding in knocking the heads back against theknives. After the heads are cut off they fall packers, andspring-fingers 26 and straightened out and forced upon the platform 30,with their ends projecting forwardly and in position to be trimmed offby the cutting- Wheel to the proper length, the heads being forced alongthe platform by means of the endless slotted belt 32 and discharged uponthe delivery-fork, from which they are dumped at the will of the driver.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation,and advantages of my improved broom-corn harvester will be readilyapparent without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for harvesting broom-corn, the combination of a mainwheeled frame, of an auxiliary frame carried by said main frame,gathering and cutting mechanism carried at the forward end of saidauxiliary frame for cutting the heads from the standing corn,straightening-rolls, an endless conveyer for conveying the gatheredheads from the gathering mechanism to the straightening-rolls,spring-fingers for aiding in straightening said heads, packing-bladesfor pushing said heads across the rolls and onto a table or platform, anendless conveyer arranged above said platform to convey the heads acrosssaid platform, a cutting-wheel arranged to trim off the stems of saidheads, gearing for operating the several parts, and a delivery-fork fordischarging said trim med heads, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a mainWheeled frame of an auxiliary frame carried by said main frame,gathering mechanism, a reciprocating sicklebar arranged in rear of saidgathering devices, an endless conveyer arranged in rear of saidsickle-bar, straightening-rolls mounted in rear of said endlessconveyer, spring-fingers adapted to aid said rolls, a table or platform,packing-blades, adapted to operate between said rolls, to force theheads upon said platform, a second endless conveyer arranged above saidplatform for moving the heads across the same, an adjustablecutting-wheel, and an adjustable shear-plate for cutting the stems ofthe broom-corn heads at various lengths, a delivery-fork for receivingthe trimmed heads from the said platform,means for operating saiddelivery-fork to discharge said heads, and gearing for operating theseveral parts, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a reel,divergent gathering-arms for gathering the heads, a cutting apparatus inthe rear of said gathering-arms for cutting off said heads,straightening-rolls, an endless conveyer for conducting the heads fromsaid cutting apparatus to said straightening-rolls, packing-blades foraiding in straightening and pushing said heads across said rolls, meansfor operating said packingblades, a cutting-Wheel, means for conductingthe heads from said rolls across the path of movement of saidcutting-wheel, a delivery-fork for receiving and discharging the headsafter being trimmed, and gearing for operating the several parts,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH E. LARSON.

WVitnesses:

D. F. DAVIS, A. 0. SMITH.

